Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which is called the uvea (or uveal tract).

The uvea is made up of the iris (coloured part of the eye), the ciliary body (ring of muscle behind the iris) and the choroid (layer of tissue that supports the retina).

Inflammation of the uvea usually causes a red eye, sometimes with cloudy vision, and it may be painful (see Symptoms, below, for more information).

Uveitis may be caused by an injury, infection or underlying disease (see Causes). If it is not treated, the eyesight can be seriously damaged.

Who is affected?

Uveitis can affect anyone. It particularly affects people of working age but can also occur in children.

Different types of uveitis

The type of uveitis depends on which part of the eye is affected:
the most common type of uveitis, accounting for 75% of cases.
adults.

Anterior uveitis. This is inflammation of the iris (iritis) or inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body (iridocyclitis). It is

Intermediate uveitis. This affects the area behind the ciliary body and the retina. It tends to occur in childen, teenagers and young

Posterior uveitis. This affects the area at the back of the eye, the choroid and the retina.

Acute uveitis lasts for a few weeks and can recur, whereas chronic uveitis lasts for more than three months, with symptoms that can vary from day to day.

If you have uveitis, it may have implications on your fitness to drive. See Useful links, above, to find out how to inform the DVLA about medical conditions.

If you have uveitis, you will have some or all of the following symptoms.

Anterior uveitis (iritis)

Anterior uveitis affects the front of the eye (usually the iris) and is the most common type. Only one eye is usually affected. Symptoms include:

an aching, painful, red eye. The pain can range from mild aching to intense discomfort,

blurred or cloudy vision,

a small pupil,

an iris (the coloured part of the eye) that may have a slightly different colour,

sensitivity to light (photophobia),

floaters (dots that move across the field of vision), and

headaches.

These symptoms may develop gradually over hours or days. They may be acute (lasting a few weeks) or chronic (lasting for more than three months).

Intermediate uveitis

Intermediate uveitis is the second most common type, affecting the area just behind the ciliary body and part of the retina. Both eyes tend to be affected and it is usually painless.

Symptoms can include:

mild redness (although there is usually no redness),

floaters (dots that move across the field of vision), and

blurred vision due to cells from the blood vessels leaking into the gel of the eye.

There is usually no redness or only mild redness associated with intermediate uveitis.

Posterior uveitis

Posterior uveitis affects the back of the eye (the choroid) where your blood vessels supply the retina. One or both eyes may be affected and it is usually painless.

Posterior uveitis usually causes decreased vision and floaters, and sometimes retinal detachment (see Useful links) These symptoms are slower to develop and often last longer than those of anterior uveitis.

Posterior uveitis can be more damaging to the eye than other types of uveitis. It sometimes causes visual loss.

The cause of uveitis is often unknown, but it may result from:

an injury to the eye (traumatic iritis), for example, a squash ball hitting the eye,